My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Greene County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

William F. Lovejoy is foreman of the Leonard plantation in Greene County, Ark., which is one of the finest in the State, containing 2,000 acres under wire fence, with 600 acres in cultivation. On this farm is a good general store, belonging to Mr. Lovejoy, and a saw and grist-mill and a cotton-gin belonging to Mr. Leonard. They are largely interested in raising blooded stock, the plantation being admirably adapted to this industry, and a specialty is made of raising Poland China and Berkshire hogs. Nineteen dwelling houses are on the place, and the barn, which is 100x85 feet, is one of the best in the State. From 250 to 300 acres of land are annually devoted to the culture of cotton, which receives the most of Mr. Lovejoy’s attention. He was born in DeKalb County, Ga., in 1843, and was the second in a family of five children born to Samuel and Paulina (Scaife) Lovejoy, who were also Georgians, the father a planter and merchant by occupation. In 1848 they moved to Alabama and resided on a plantation in that State, and here the mother died, in 1850. The father remained there until 1870, when he moved to Phillips County, Ark., in which State he resided until his death, in 1883. William F. Lovejoy was reared on a plantation and received his education in the schools of Alabama. While living in that State he was married, in 1864, to Frances Carrington, and at the time of his father’s removal to Arkansas he and wife came also and engaged in farming and merchandising. He owns a good farm in St. Francis County, but since 1883 he has resided in Greene County, and since 1886 has had charge of Mr. Leonard’s farm, which he is conducting in a highly satisfactory manner. Besides his property in St. Francis County he has 160 acres, with forty under cultivation, near Mr. Leonard’s farm. He has never been very active in politics, but votes the Democratic ticket. In 1862, while in Alabama, he joined M. M. Slaughter’s Company, Bell’s Battalion, Tenth Regiment, Confederate States Army, but became afflicted with chronic diarrhea and was honorably discharged. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Brinkley Lodge No. 295. He has seen a great change for the better in Greene County since locating here, and has witnessed the full growth of Rector, and has been the means of opening up more land than any man in Blue Cane Township. He has also done much to increase the wealth of the same, and has expended over $10,000 in clearing the large plantation of which he is manager, and which is now one of the most valuable pieces of property in the State. He and wife became the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Mary Paulina, is the wife of Mr. Bradford, merchant and express agent at Brinkley, Ark.; she is the mother of one child, William Monroe.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 120 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Greene County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Greene County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Greene County, Arkansas family biographies here: Greene County, Arkansas Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.